Context

India has recently opposed the global phase-out of Chlorpyrifos, a toxic pesticide, at the 2025 meetings of the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm (BRS) Conventions held in Geneva from April 28 to May 9, 2025. A proposal to list this chemical under Annex A of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) was put forth, with wide international support. However, India raised strong reservations, citing concerns about food security and a lack of suitable alternatives.

Objective of the Stockholm Convention

The Stockholm Convention, adopted in 2001 and enforced from 2004, is a global environmental treaty aimed at:

• Protecting human health and the environment from Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs).
• Eliminating or restricting the production and use of hazardous chemicals.
• Reducing unintentional production and release of toxic substances.

About Chlorpyrifos

• Type: Organophosphate pesticide.
• Registration in India: Since 1977 under the Insecticides Act.
• Usage: Widely applied on crops like rice, cotton, sugarcane, mustard, groundnut, brinjal, onion, and cabbage.
• Health Concerns:

• • Linked to neurological damage, developmental disorders in children, and cancer risks.
  • Inhibits acetylcholinesterase, an enzyme crucial for nerve function.
  • Exposure routes: Inhalation, skin contact, ingestion via food residues.
• WHO Classification: Moderately hazardous.
• A 2024 Indian study found Chlorpyrifos as the most frequently detected pesticide in food samples (33% detection frequency).

India’s Stand at the Convention

India strongly opposed the inclusion of Chlorpyrifos under Annex A, which mandates complete elimination of listed substances.

• Key Arguments by India:

• • Food Security Threat: Banning the pesticide without available alternatives could affect crop yields and food supply.
  • Economic Dependence: Chlorpyrifos remains crucial in managing pests for several staple and commercial crops.
  • Limited Alternatives: There is a lack of cost-effective and efficient substitutes, especially for small and marginal farmers.
• Current Status in India:

• • Approved for use on at least eight crops.
  • Widely applied in both agriculture and public health sectors.

Global Support for Ban

Despite India’s opposition, many countries supported a global phase-out of Chlorpyrifos, including:

• European Union, United Kingdom, Norway, Switzerland, Uruguay, Iraq, and Guyana.
• Some nations like Kenya and Cameroon requested limited exemptions for specific local uses.

These countries emphasized the long-term environmental hazards and public health risks associated with the pesticide’s continued use.

Scientific Committee’s Recommendation

In 2024, the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee (POPRC) conducted a comprehensive review and recommended listing Chlorpyrifos under Annex A, based on the following:

• Persistence in the environment (does not degrade easily).
• Bioaccumulation in the food chain.
• Long-range environmental transport, meaning it can travel across borders through air or water and impact remote regions.

Health and Environmental Hazards

• Neurological Impact: Inhibits enzyme acetylcholinesterase, causing potential nerve damage.
• Child Development: Exposure during pregnancy has been associated with reduced birth size and cognitive impairments.
• Environmental Spread: Persistent in soil and water, and accumulates in wildlife.

Past Context and Comparative Reference

India’s opposition to Chlorpyrifos follows a similar stance taken in 2010, when it opposed the ban on another toxic pesticide, Endosulfan, despite global consensus. Notably:

• Over 40 countries have now banned Chlorpyrifos.
• India and China are the largest producers of Chlorpyrifos globally.

Key Static Facts for Exams